Rugby league is the heavy contact sport many Australians love, but the high impact game can lead to severe head injuries, and this is taking a serious toll on the game. High tackles, HIA’s (Head Injury Assessments) and concussions have been a major talking point in rugby league for the past decade, with the the fast paced, high intensity game in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. To combat this, the NRL introduced an independent doctor in 2023, adding an extra layer of protection for the players on the pitch, and taking the decision of letting the player back…
Author: Jack Naumovski
While the cost of living rises, government support for junior sport has remained stagnant, with families being forced to fork out money to ensure their children are able to participate in healthy activities. In NSW the active kids voucher has decreased from the original two vouchers of $100 to now two vouchers of $50. The eligibility requirements has also changed drastically with only school enrolled children aged between 4.5 and 18 years able to claim. The new eligibility also requires a combined incom of no more than $65,189. Wollongong parent Keti Whitmee was an avid user…
Small businesses are continuing to strengthen the economy making up 97.2 per cent of total businesses in Australia. As of June 2024 there were more than two and a half million actively trading businesses in Australia, which is almost one business for every 10 Australian. In addition there was a 2.8 per cent increase in the number of businesses operating by the end of the 2023/24 financial year, compared to the beginning, which was an overall increase of 73 125 businesses. With the rise of online shopping, small entrepreneurs have pounced on potential markets, particularly during the pandemic, as…
UOW’s Early Start Discovery Discovery Space has introduced its Story Play Wednesdays initiative to engage children’s ability to read and develop their imagination. Story Play Wednesday is a public program for families to come into the Early Start Discovery Space and join in a shared reading of a book with an educator and create something in relation to the book such as an art piece. “What we are really trying to encourage is children and family to engage with books,” Education Partnership Coordinator Sally Robson said. “Because the joy of reading can be experienced from the earliest of age and…
The increase of concussions sustained in contact sport has been taken seriously in rugby league, and coaches have made it their mission to lower these statistics to potentially save lives. A concussion is an injury to the head that can be inflicted when playing heavy contact sports and can result in brain injuries and chronic issues later in life. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has found that these serious injuries have been particularly common in young men. To combat the alarming statistics, players are being taught the correct ways to tackle and play. Under 11s rugby league coach…
Sporting organisations are turning to research to help prevent sports injuries for athletes that occur either during a game or in training. Australian statistics for sporting injuries has shown that recreational walking was an activity that helped prevent injury with 10.1 million participants in 2021/2022, compared to eight million people attending fitness regimes and going to the gym during the same period. Basketball was the lowest form of physical activity in the top ten with 996,000 participants. However, it was still in the top three team sports only losing to soccer. The Ausplay survey involved 19.2 million Australians aged 15…
Australian Labor Party’s Jim Chalmers gave his 4th budget speech in the House of Representatives leading into the 2025 federal election. There was a major win for students with the introduction of a $16 billion cut from student loan debts across Australia. This will take place from the 1st of June and will affect three million Australian students which looks to slash the amount owed by 20%. Labor’s plan looks to help anyone with a HECS debt, VET student loan, Australian Apprenticeship Support Loan and other income-contingent student support loan accounts. Previously this debt had been tied to inflation…
In the third round of the finals the Corrimal Rangers and Cringila Lions youth sides clashed, with the winner progressing to the grand final. Cringila beat Consiton in penalties to progress to the semi-final, as Corrimal had a week of rest after a loss on penalties to Wollongong United. Rangers midfielder Mackenzie Szelig spoke on the Ranger’s season as they finished second losing out on the Minor Premiership in the final game of the season to Wollongong United. “Bit of a difficult season the boys ended up finishing second by one point,” Szelig said. “For myself…
Balgownie Rangers youth grade bowed out of the Illawarra District League finals series after a 4-2 defeat on Saturday afternoon at Tarrawanna Oval. It was a bad start for Balgownie, as captain and stalwart defender Riley Jarrett was forced off with an injury, which made the game much harder, according to Rangers’ winger Xavier Fiumara. The Rangers were subjected to a first-half onslaught from the Breakers, who went into the sheds with a three-goal advantage courtesy of Lucas Zerafa’s brace as Elijah Dabelstein also scored before Lucas Zerafa notched his hat-trick in the 64th minute. “It was tricky because he’s…
The Balgownie Rangers youth side has advanced through to the next stage as they beat University of Wollongong FC 2-1. The Rangers fought back from a one goal deficit as they won the game with two goals in the 2nd half including a late penalty converted by midfielder Tommy Cusack in the 84th minute. Rangers forward Adam Monteleone admits the team was shaken up as the early goal went in. “I think everyone on the field was nervous, I won’t lie,” he said. “But I think the game was really saved when coach subbed Luke and I off, I think…